Wed Aug 19 – Whale Watching

Conditions were perfect for a whale watch as we left the dock under clear skies and a light breeze.
Almost immediately after passing the point (lighthouse), we encountered pelagic bird activity: Wilson’s
storm petrels, Corys, great, and sooty shearwaters, along with gulls and terns by the hundreds. Bait was
thick at the surface and we found our first humpback of the day a little more than three miles from
shore. This was a juvenile, likely feeding just beneath the surface, and surfacing every 2-4 minutes. We
spent a little bit of time with this individual before continuing offshore to the area where we
encountered the mom and calf and numerous minke whales over the weekend. Sure enough, once we
arrived, we discovered at least five humpbacks, made up of a mom/calf pair, an associated pair, and at
least one individual diving and surfacing within a quarter mile of our vessel. All of the humpbacks
observed (less the calf) are returnees to the area, having been documented off Montauk in previous
years, including one individual who has not only been seen consecutively since 2023 but on multiple
trips since early July in 2026. CRESLI’s photo-identification of individuals is showing the significance of
this region as a feeding ground and important habitat for the species. As we watched the humpbacks, a
couple of minke whales popped up nearby and a school of cownose rays passed by directly beneath and
around our vessel! So far, we have documented 87 individual humpbacks this season, along with many
finback and minke whales. With less than one month of trips left, now is the time to book your trip and
join us on our next adventure.

6-8 humpback whales
2 minke whales
Hundreds of Wilson’s storm petrels
100-160 great shearwaters
80-140 Cory’s shearwaters
8-12 sooty shearwaters
School of cownose rays